Question 114·Hard·Words in Context
Recent surveys of the island’s flora have documented a gradual uptick in the presence of Phalaris arundinacea. In her keynote address, Dr. Morales called the weed’s expansion “alarmingly metronomic,” emphasizing its relentless regularity. Some journalists, however, glossed over that qualifier, paraphrasing her as warning of a sudden explosion in growth—a characterization that is decidedly ______.
Which choice completes the text with the most logical and precise word or phrase?
For SAT Words-in-Context questions, first ignore the answer choices and restate in your own words what the blank needs to mean, using the surrounding sentences for clues about tone (positive/negative) and logic (agreement/contrast). Then, test each answer by plugging it into the sentence and asking, “Does this match the meaning I already figured out from context?” Eliminate choices whose basic dictionary meanings don’t fit the situation or whose tone clashes with the author’s attitude, and be especially wary of words you only “sort of” recognize—know at least a rough definition before you keep them in.
Hints
Focus on the contrast
Look closely at how Dr. Morales describes the growth versus how the journalists describe it. What is different between “alarmingly metronomic” and “a sudden explosion in growth”?
Decide the author’s attitude
Is the author praising the journalists’ paraphrase or criticizing it? Does the phrase “glossed over that qualifier” suggest approval or disapproval?
Think about meaning and tone of the blank
The blank describes the journalists’ characterization. Should the missing word be positive, neutral, or negative? What kind of word would you use for a description that doesn’t match the facts?
Eliminate mismatched meanings
Go through each option and ask: Does this word describe something false or misleading about what was said, or does it describe something else (like cooperation, extra help, or good fortune)?
Step-by-step Explanation
Understand what is being described
The blank describes the journalists’ characterization of the weed’s growth. They paraphrase Dr. Morales as warning of a sudden explosion in growth.
Compare the journalists’ version with the original description
The passage tells us that surveys show a gradual uptick and that Dr. Morales says the expansion is “alarmingly metronomic,” meaning it is relentlessly regular, not sudden or explosive. So the journalists’ “sudden explosion” version clearly misrepresents what she said.
Decide what kind of word is needed
Because the journalists’ description conflicts with the original (gradual, regular) description, the author calls their wording “a characterization that is decidedly ______.” We need a word that means something like misleading, false, or deceptive, with a clearly negative judgment.
Test each answer choice in the sentence
Now check each option in the blank:
- “decidedly concerted” would mean strongly coordinated or jointly planned—this does not describe a false characterization.
- “decidedly auxiliary” would mean clearly additional or secondary—also not about truth or accuracy.
- “decidedly propitious” would mean clearly favorable or promising—tone is wrong and does not capture “misleading.”
- “decidedly specious” means clearly deceptive or only seemingly correct. Only “specious” matches the idea that the journalists’ version sounds serious but distorts what Dr. Morales actually said.